THREADS OF COMPASSION WHERE THERE’S NO SHRED OF HOPE

BY ANNA (WILLIFORD) DERBYSHIRE ‘90

WHEN WEST TEXAS DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT, Dr. David Downs, and his wife, Susan, first visited the refugee community of Cactus, Texas, they immediately saw the need for a Nazarene compassionate-ministry work there. On the seven-hour drive home, they providentially received a call from a layman in Ohio, where David had previously served as district superintendent. He asked if there was a ministry need in Texas to which he could specifically contribute. On that day, Cactus Ministry Center received its initial funding. Today, it houses one Nazarene congregation and two being planned, a faith-based Department-of-Justice immigration center, a dynamic after-school program, an ESL course, and a GED program. Four years ago, they added The Well Health Center, the only medical clinic in Cactus.

Dr. Downs explains that “West Texas is one of the destination points for immigrants and refugees.” Diversity of refugees and immigrants is especially evident in Cactus, with a population of 3500 representing over twenty nations, and almost 50% non-English speaking.

CNMC Director, Rev. Phil Anderson, explains the intense spiritual warfare that is endured by those who minister to the nations represented there. He asks for prayer, and the Spirit of God in His power and grace to fall on the community.

However, Cactus is not the only area of Texas’ sprawling terrain that boasts multi-cultural communities and the unique needs they bring. “This is a very diverse district,” Dr. Downs said, “and our churches reflect our communities.” The openness to multi-cultural ministry is evidenced by the growing number of ethnically diverse congregations on the West Texas district. Of the 104 churches on the district, 30 are pastored by first-generation immigrants or refugees. World areas represented include Asia, South America, Central America, and both East and West Africa.

Dr. David ‘76 & Susan Downs ‘76

Dr. Downs states, “the immigrant community’s receptivity to the message of holiness and to the friendship, love, and compassion as found in the Church of the Nazarene” is like “low-hanging fruit.” Among the many congregations on the district that open their arms to refugees, Fort Worth CrossPoint welcomes over a dozen nationalities who gather to worship. Pastor Todd Derbyshire proclaims, “We are one church. It is not ‘us’ and ‘them.’ WE are CrossPoint.” This sentiment resounds throughout the district.

Pastor Raquel (Cintrón) Forest '92 ministers to mother and daughter at Cactus Nazarene Ministry Center (CNMC).

South Sudanese refugee and pastor Michael Gatkek is among those effectively reaching African refugees here in the U.S. He has planted numerous ministries, including African Relief Ministries in Ethiopia. As with most refugees and immigrants, he senses the vital need to provide for those still in his impoverished homelands.

One South Sudanese pastor from Amarillo felt the call to return for a visit to his homeland. Delayed from returning to the States for three months when a civil war broke out in South Sudan, he traveled across the region, planting over thirty churches as he went. Five years afterward, it is now confirmed by the region’s denominational leadership that 25 of these churches remain strong in the war-torn nation of South Sudan. One of them had over 1000 in attendance on Easter Sunday!

Dr. Downs with South Sudanese Pastor Kor Chakud and family

Although Cactus, the African congregations, and other refugee communities flourish under the leadership of the Downs and the Church of the Nazarene, there are also a number of other compassion-driven ministries serving needs across the district.

New US citizens through CNMS Immigration Ministry

Volunteers at Pipeline Ministries - sign reads, "The best is yet to come!"

Well Health Center in Cactus provides vital vaccines .

Some may think of West Texas as wind, dust, and oil wells, and that is actually an accurate description of the Permian Basin region surrounding Big Spring. It was here that Pastor Josh Cisneros started Pipeline Ministries to serve the oil field workers and their families. His prayer is “that God saturates the areas of harvest until it overflows with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” as they bring the Gospel to the ‘man camps’ or RV parks where the oilfield workers reside. He believes they are “in the middle of the harvest fields and that Jesus is the answer.” Even though he admits they are finding it “hard ground,” they are called to keep believing and presenting the God of compassion and hope. The Pipeline is a collaborative ministry with the South Texas District.

On the other side of the district, in the DFW area, a large number of Chinese students, sent to America by their government for higher education, were met with compassion and an extended hand of friendship. “They are so hungry for unconditional love,” Tricia Williford, a founding leader of the Willowwood Chinese Ministry explained. “The door opened, and they stepped right into our hearts!” In 2020, many Chinese students were sent home at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, but not before over 200 Chinese young men accepted Christ as their Savior!

Pastor Calvary Callendar '97 leads West Texas District Disaster Response Team

Dr. David & Susan Downs with Korean pastors and family

Pastor Lury Thang of Arlington Burmese Church of the Nazarene with family & daughter Susanna Thang '22

Simultaneously, another group of young intellectuals was being drawn in by Rev. Premal and Kavita Awasarmal who continue planting the seeds of the gospel in the hearts of Asian Indian students at the University of Texas in Arlington (UTA). “The majority of Asian Indians in the US, around 80%, come from the high caste of India. It has proven almost impossible for people in the high castes of society to be reached in India.” Premal explained. “But here in Arlington, Texas, we have shared the gospel with more than 200 Asian Indian students on the campus and 30 have prayed the salvation prayer.”

Not far from UTA stands Rescue Hill, a new ministry reaching victims of human trafficking. Rev. Amanda and Rev. Steve Pettit, founding ministers, bring compassion to the hopeless by providing an emergency shelter for trafficked victims. After the immediate needs of these victims are met, the Pettits work closely with law enforcement, community leaders, and fellow organizations to connect survivors with the care they need. Rescue Hill has been highly commended by Homeland Security, and by state and local law enforcement. Rev. Amanda Pettit explains, “We choose to be people of hope, for without hope, survivors, and those who serve them, could easily despair.”

From the wilds of West Texas and the war-ravaged nations of Africa to Asian students and those impacted by human trafficking, there is a thread of compassion that ties these ministries together under the leadership of Dr. David and Susan Downs. Dr. Downs stated, “Anything good that happens is of the Lord.” He goes on to admit, “it is usually not going to go as we planned it,” and it won’t likely happen because of a “strategic meeting.” What has happened here is “obviously directed by the leadership of the Holy Spirit.” Dr. Downs insists all he has done is “let people who have compassion do their work."